PCDRA Sample Questions for Palo Alto Networks Detection Analyst Exam

Prepare for the Palo Alto Networks Certified Detection and Remediation Analyst (PCDRA) exam with this focused collection of sample questions and practice material. These scenario-based questions cover threat detection, alert triage, incident response, and remediation across modern enterprise security environments. Designed for entry-level SOC analysts and cybersecurity professionals, this PCDRA resource includes dumps, real-world practice tests, and question formats that reflect the actual exam structure. Whether you're looking to reinforce core concepts or simulate exam conditions, this guide provides the tools you need for success in earning your Palo Alto PCDRA certification.

PCDRA Sample Questions List :

1. In the Cortex XDR console, from which two pages are you able to manually perform the agent upgrade action? (Choose two.)

1. Endpoint Administration

2. Asset Management

3. Action Center

4. Agent Installations

2. Which license is required when deploying Cortex XDR agent on Kubernetes Clusters as a DaemonSet?

1. Cortex XDR Pro per TB

2. Host Insights

3. Cortex XDR Pro per Endpoint

4. Cortex XDR Cloud per Host

3. When creating a BIOC rule, which XQL query can be used?

1. dataset = xdr_data | filter event_sub_type = PROCESS_START and action_process_image_name ~= ".*?\.(?:pdf|docx)\.exe"

2. dataset = xdr_data | filter event_type = PROCESS and event_sub_type = PROCESS_START and action_process_image_name ~= ".*?\.(?:pdf|docx)\.exe"

3. dataset = xdr_data | filter action_process_image_name ~= ".*?\.(?:pdf|docx)\.exe" | fields action_process_image

4. dataset = xdr_data | filter event_behavior = true event_sub_type = PROCESS_START and action_process_image_name ~= ".*?\.(?:pdf|docx)\.exe"

4. Where can SHA256 hash values be used in Cortex XDR Malware Protection Profiles?

1. in the macOS Malware Protection Profile to indicate allowed signers

2. in the Linux Malware Protection Profile to indicate allowed Java libraries

3. SHA256 hashes cannot be used in Cortex XDR Malware Protection Profiles

4. in the Windows Malware Protection Profile to indicate allowed executables

5. When creating a scheduled report which is not an option?

1. Run weekly on a certain day and time

2. Run quarterly on a certain day and time

3. Run monthly on a certain day and time

4. Run daily at a certain time (selectable hours and minutes)

6. What functionality of the Broker VM would you use to ingest third-party firewall logs to the Cortex Data Lake?

1. Netflow Collector

2. Syslog Collector

3. DB Collector

4. Pathfinder

7. When using the “File Search and Destroy” feature, which of the following search hash type is supported?

1. SHA256 hash of the file

2. AES256 hash of the file

3. MD5 hash of the file

4. SHA1 hash of the file

8. A Linux endpoint with a Cortex XDR Pro per Endpoint license and Enhanced Endpoint Data enabled has reported malicious activity, resulting in the creation of a file that you wish to delete. Which action could you take to delete the file?

1. Manually remediate the problem on the endpoint in question

2. Open X2go from the Cortex XDR console and delete the file via X2go

3. Initiate Remediate Suggestions to automatically delete the file

4. Open an NFS connection from the Cortex XDR console and delete the file

9. Can you disable the ability to use the Live Terminal feature in Cortex XDR?

1. Yes, via Agent Settings Profile

2. No, it is a required feature of the agent

3. No, a separate installer package without Live Terminal is required

4. Yes, via the Cortex XDR console or with an installation switch

10. Which of the following Live Terminal options are available for Android systems?

1. Run Android commands

2. Live Terminal is not supported

3. Run APK scripts

4. Stop an app

11. What kind of malware uses encryption, data theft, denial of service, and possibly harassment to take advantage of a victim?

1. Rootkit

2. Keylogger

3. Ransomware

4. Worm

12. An attacker tries to load dynamic libraries on macOS from an unsecure location. Which Cortex XDR module can prevent this attack?

1. DDL Security

2. Hot Patch Protection

3. Kernel Integrity Monitor (KIM)

4. Dylib Hijacking

13. While working the alerts involved in a Cortex XDR incident, an analyst has found that every alert in this incident requires an exclusion. What will the Cortex XDR console automatically do to this incident if all alerts contained have exclusions?

1. mark the incident as Unresolved

2. create a BIOC rule excluding this behavior

3. create an exception to prevent future false positives

4. mark the incident as Resolved – False Positive

14. Which profiles can the user use to configure malware protection in the Cortex XDR console?

1. Malware Protection profile

2. Malware profile

3. Malware Detection profile

4. Anti-Malware profile

15. Which type of IOC can you define in Cortex XDR?

1. Source port

2. Destination IP Address

3. Destination IP Address:Destination

4. Source IP Address

16. Which Type of IOC can you define in Cortex XDR?

1. destination port

2. e-mail address

3. full path

4. App-ID

17. You can star security events in which two ways? (Choose two.)

1. Create an alert-starring configuration

2. Create an Incident-starring configuration

3. Manually star an alert

4. Manually star an Incident

18. When selecting multiple Incidents at a time, what options are available from the menu when a user right-clicks the incidents? (Choose two.)

1. Assign incidents to an analyst in bulk

2. Change the status of multiple incidents

3. Investigate several Incidents at once

4. Delete the selected Incidents

19. When creating a custom XQL query in a dashboard, how would a user save that XQL query to the Widget Library?

1. Click the three dots on the widget and then choose “Save” and this will link the query to the Widget Library

2. This isn’t supported, you have to exit the dashboard and go into the Widget Library first to create it

3. Click on “Save to Action Center” in the dashboard and you will be prompted to give the query a name and description

4. Click on “Save to Widget Library” in the dashboard and you will be prompted to give the query a name and description

20. What is an example of an attack vector for ransomware?

1. A URL filtering feature enabled on a firewall

2. Phishing emails containing malicious attachments

3. Performing DNS queries for suspicious domains

4. Performing SSL Decryption on an endpoint

21. While working the alerts involved in a Cortex XDR incident, an analyst has found that every alert in this incident requires an exclusion. What will the Cortex XDR console automatically do to this incident if all alerts contained have exclusions?

1. mark the incident as Unresolved

2. create a BIOC rule excluding this behavior

3. create an exception to prevent future false positives

4. mark the incident as Resolved – Auto Resolve

22. As a Malware Analyst working with Cortex XDR you notice an alert suggesting that there was a prevented attempt to open a malicious Word document. You learn from the WildFire report and AutoFocus that this document is known to have been used in Phishing campaigns since 2018. What steps can you take to ensure that the same document is not opened by other users in your organization protected by the Cortex XDR agent?

1. Enable DLL Protection on all endpoints but there might be some false positives

2. No step is required because Cortex shares IOCs with our fellow Cyber Threat Alliance members

3. No step is required because the malicious document is already stopped

4. Install latest content updates to recognize and prevent the activity

23. What is the maximum number of agents one Broker VM local agent applet can support?

1. 10,000

2. 15,000

3. 5,000

4. 20,000

24. Which Exploit Protection Module (EPM) can be used to prevent attacks based on OS function?

1. Memory Limit Heap Spray Check

2. DLL Security

3. UASLR

4. JIT Mitigation

25. Why would one threaten to encrypt a hypervisor or, potentially, a multiple number of virtual machines running on a server?

1. To extort a payment from a victim or potentially embarrass the owners

2. To gain notoriety and potentially a consulting position

3. To better understand the underlying virtual infrastructure

4. To potentially perform a Distributed Denial of Attack

FAQs

1. What is the Palo Alto Networks Certified Detection and Remediation Analyst (PCDRA) certification?

The PCDRA certification validates your skills in detecting, analyzing, and responding to cybersecurity threats using Palo Alto Networks’ Cortex XDR platform and related tools.

2. How do I become a Palo Alto Certified Detection and Remediation Analyst?

You must pass the PCDRA exam, which assesses your ability to use Palo Alto Networks solutions to investigate alerts, analyze incidents, and implement remediation strategies.

3. What are the prerequisites for the Palo Alto Networks PCDRA certification exam?

There are no formal prerequisites, but familiarity with security operations, threat analysis, and Palo Alto’s Cortex XDR is highly recommended.

4. How much does the Palo Alto PCDRA certification exam cost?

The PCDRA exam typically costs $155 USD, though prices may vary slightly depending on region and currency.

5. What topics are covered in the PCDRA certification exam?

The exam includes topics such as incident detection, threat intelligence, Cortex XDR operations, data correlation, and response actions.

6. How difficult is the Palo Alto Networks PCDRA exam?

The exam is considered entry to intermediate level, suitable for security analysts, SOC professionals, or those starting in cybersecurity monitoring.

7. How long does it take to prepare for the PCDRA certification exam?

Most candidates prepare in 4–6 weeks, combining theory, hands-on practice, and mock tests to build practical understanding.

8. How long is the PCDRA certification valid?

The PCDRA certification is valid for two years from the date you pass the exam.

9. What are the job roles available after earning the PCDRA certification?

After certification, you can work as a Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst, Cybersecurity Analyst, Threat Hunter, or Incident Responder.

10. What is the average salary of a Palo Alto Networks Certified Detection and Remediation Analyst?

On average, certified professionals earn between $85,000 and $110,000 per year, depending on experience and location.